Honda unveils their 2014 Honda "Urban SUV Concept" at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 in Detroit. / Jarrad Henderson/Detroit Free Press

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Honda unveiled today the concept for a new small crossover that will go on sale in the U.S. in late 2014, said John Mendel, Executive Vice President at American Honda.

A new Honda Fit, also based on the concept and sharing the subcompact platform, will go on sale a few months before.

Both will be built at Honda’s new $800-million plant, under construction, in Celaya, Mexico. Mendel would not say whether the electric Fit also will be made at the new plant that will have the capacity to make 200,000 vehicles a year for export around the world.

The Urban SUV concept made its world debut today at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“We think this vehicle is right on the money,” Mendel said of the crossover that is not meant to be an off-road vehicle, but “speaks to its nimble nature.” He would not provide sales forecasts or powertrain details.

The new crossover would slot in below the CR-V in the automaker’s lineup.

The global family of small cars will account for much of Honda’s volume and growth.The first small SUVs will go on sale in Japan by the end of the year.

Honda’s global sales are now about 4 million and will grow to 6 million by March 2017, said Takanobu Ito, CEO of Honda, based in Japan. He expects the subcompact family to account for 1.5 million of those sales in four years.

A hallmark of Honda is the ability to innovate when it comes to packaging, especially small vehicles where it is crucial to make the most of the limited space, said Mike Accavitti, vice president of national marketing operations for American Honda, in an interview.

Honda sold less than 50,000 Fits in the U.S. last year, down 17%, according to Autodata Corp. “We could have sold more Fits if we could get them,” Accavitti said.

He would not say whether more derivatives are planned, such as a small sedan to augment the hatchback and SUV, but noted that fuel efficiency regulations require more small vehicles. “The good news is consumers want them.”

If there is a hole in the Honda lineup, it would be a sports car, Accavitti said, adding he personally would love to see a replacement for the S2000 that was discontinued.